Liquid composition, especially ink composition, for printing with a binary deflected continuous jet, with non-charged drops, use of said composition, marking method and marked substrate

ABSTRACT

A liquid composition, including a solvent, for printing with a binary deflected continuous jet printing technique, wherein upon printing the liquid composition form drops that are each: not charged by an electric field, have a zero electric charge, form a dipole under the effect of an electric field, and are then deflected by the electric field. The liquid composition has all the following characteristics: a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 500 μS/cm, still preferably a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 500 μS/cm, the value of 500 μS/cm being excluded, better a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 400 μS/cm, still better a conductivity at 20° C. from 30 to 400 μS/cm, for example from 30 to 200 μS/cm; a dynamic viscosity at 20° C. from 1 to 25 cPs, preferably from 6 to 25 cPs; and a density from 0.8 to 2.5 g/cm3, preferably from 1.2 to 2.5 g/cm3.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a liquid composition (composition of liquid),such as an ink composition for treating and/or marking substrates,supports and objects of any kinds, the properties of which arespecifically adapted to the treatment, and/or to the marking or to theprinting, by the printing technique with a binary deflected continuousliquid jet, with non-charged drops, on a very wide variety of supports,substrates and objects.

More specifically, this printing technique with a binary deflectedcontinuous jet is a technique in which the liquid composition forms uponprinting, drops which are not charged by an electric field, which eachhave zero electric charge, which each form a dipole under the effect ofan electric field, and which are then deflected by said electric field.

For convenience, this printing technique will be designated in thefollowing by

SPI

technique.

The invention also relates to the use of this liquid composition, suchas an ink composition, according to the invention, in a printer or aprinting head applying the printing technique with a liquid jet, notablywith an ink jet, a so-called

SPI

technique,

The invention further relates to a method for treating and/or marking asubstrate, support, or object by projection on this substrate, supportor object, of said liquid composition such as an ink composition withthe printing technique with a liquid jet, a so-called

SPI

technique.

The invention finally relates to a substrate, support or object providedwith a marking or treatment obtained by drying and/or absorption of theliquid composition such as an ink composition according to theinvention.

The technical field of the invention is generally that of printing witha liquid jet, notably with an inkjet.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Ink jet printing is a well known technique, which allows the printing,the marking or the decoration of any kinds of objects, at a high rate,and without contact of these objects with the printing device, ofmessages variable at will, such as bar codes, sell-by dates, etc. andthis even on non-planar supports.

Printing techniques with an ink jet are divided into two main types:i.e. the so called

drop-on-demand

(«DOD») technique, and the so-called «continuous ink jet» («CIJ»)technology.

The projection with a «drop-on-demand» jet may be ensured by an inkjet,a so called «bubble ink jet», by a so-called «piezoelectric» inkjet, bya so-called «valve inkjet» or finally with a so-called «hot melt» inkjetor with a phase transition.

In the case of the bubble ink jet, the ink is vaporized in the vicinityof the nozzle and this vaporization causes the ejection of a smallamount of ink located between the resistor which vaporizes the ink andthe nozzle. In the case of the piezoelectric inkjet, a sudden pressurevariation caused by an actuator set into motion by the electricexcitation of a piezoelectric crystal or ceramic and located in thevicinity of the nozzle, causes the ejection of an ink droplet.

In the case of the «hot melt» inkjet, the ink is without any solvent andis brought to beyond its melting point.

The drop-on-demand printing may therefore be carried out at roomtemperature, this is the case of the piezoelectric inkjet, of the valveinkjet or the bubble inkjet, or at a high temperature, for example fromabout 60° C. to 130° C., this is the case of the so-called «hot melt»(HM) inkjet or with a phase transition. The projection by a deflectedcontinuous jet consists of sending pressurized ink into a cavitycontaining a piezoelectric crystal, from which the ink escapes throughan orifice (nozzle) in the form of a jet. The piezoelectric crystal,vibrating at a determined frequency, causes pressure perturbations inthe inkjet, which oscillates and gradually breaks into spherical drops.An electrode, a so-called «charging electrode», placed on the path ofthe jet, where it breaks, gives the possibility of giving these drops anelectrostatic charge, if the ink is conductive. The thereby chargeddrops are deflected in an electric field and allow printing. Thenon-charged drops, therefore not deflected, are recovered in a gutterwhere the ink is sucked up, and then recycled towards the ink circuit.

For all the types of inkjet technology, the viscosity of the inks isvery low at the projection temperature, typically from 1 to 20 cPs andthese technologies may therefore be described as technologies fordepositing low viscosity ink.

Projection of ink with a jet ensures contactless marking at a highrunning rate over objects which are not necessarily planar and with thepossibility of changing messages at will. The ink compositions, suitablefor projection with a jet, should meet a certain number of criteriainherent to this technique, relating, inter alia, to the viscosity, thesolubility in a solvent for the cleaning, the compatibility of theingredients, proper wetting of the supports to be marked, etc., andelectric conductivity in the case of the deflected continuous jet.

Further, these inks should dry rapidly, be capable of flowing or ofremaining still in the vicinity of the nozzle without blocking it, withgreat stability of orientation of the jet while allowing easy cleaningof the printing head.

The ingredients which make up present inks, for the inkjet of thedeflected continuous jet type, are organic or mineral products; theseare coloring materials, such as coloring agents or pigments, resins orbinders, in more or less volatile solvent(s) or in water, optionally oneor several salts providing conductivity, as well as various additives.

The ingredients which make up present inks for the inkjet of thedrop-on-demand (DOD) type are also organic or mineral products; coloringagents or pigments, resins or binders, in solvent(s) which are more orless volatile or in water, in proportions other than those of the inksfor deflected continuous ink jet, but without the requirement ofelectric conductivity.

In the case of inks for the

hot melt

inkjet, the inks do not contain any liquid solvents at room temperaturebut liquid organic products at the projection temperature alreadyspecified above, such as waxes and resins of low molecular mass. Thesewaxes and resins of low molecular mass are generally selected so thatthe viscosity of the ink at the projection temperature is from 2 to 25mPa·s.

A printing technique with a liquid jet notably an inkjet which we shallcall conveniently in the following, and in order to avoid repetitions,an

SPI

technique which is the acronym of «super piezo inkjet» has beendeveloped recently.

This «SPI» technique is both different from the so-called«drop-on-demand» technique and from the so-called «continuous inkjet»(CU) technology.

The «SPI» technique may be defined, for simplification, as a printingtechnique with a binary CIJ deflected continuous jet in which, unlikethe printing technique with a deflected continuous jet where theprojected printing drops each have a non-zero net electric charge, thedrops are not charged with an electric field, each have a zero netelectric charge and each form a dipole under the effect of an electricfield, and are then deflected by this field.

By «binary», is meant:

-   -   that there exists a first trajectory of the drops for printing,        and a second trajectory of the drops for recycling the ink. In        this second trajectory of the drops, the drops are recovered in        a gutter where the ink is sucked up and then recycled towards        the ink circuit    -   that a message with a height of N pixels requires a printing        head with N nozzles.

It is important to note that, while in the printing technique with a“CIJ” deflected continuous jet, these are deflected drops which areprinted, in the so called “SPI” technique these are on the contrarynon-deflected drops which are printed.

The «SPI» technique is thus widely described in the following documents[1] and [2] to which reference is made here explicitly and which areintroduced into the present description in their entirety:

Document WO-A2-2005/070676 (corresponding to documents FR-A1-2 851 495and U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,121 B2) [1], describes how to form drops in thistechnique by means of a printing head provided with an internalstimulation system.

More specifically, this document according to its claim 1 refers to aninkjet printer comprising:

-   -   a printing head with one or several nozzles having an        accommodating head body notably for each nozzle,    -   a hydraulic path of the ink including, a stimulation chamber in        hydraulic communication with one of the printing nozzles        emitting an inkjet under pressure along an axis of this nozzle,    -   internal means for stimulating the inkjet emitted by the nozzle        mechanically coupled with the ink accommodated in the        stimulation chamber, these means acting on the jet emitted by        the nozzle for controllably breaking up the jet, and    -   means for recovering the ink which is not received by a printing        substrate,    -   a generator of electric control signals receiving a control        signal and delivering to the stimulation means, stimulation        signals,    -   an arrangement of charging electrodes defining around the axis        of the nozzle upstream and downstream areas, the downstream area        being further away from the nozzle than the upstream area,        upstream and downstream electrodes of this layout being        connected to electric potential sources so as to maintain in one        of the areas a potential equal to that of the ink found in the        body of the printing head, and in the other one of these areas a        potential different from that of the ink found in the body of        the printing head,    -   a layout of deflection electrodes axially located downstream        from the layout of charging electrodes,

characterized in that the generator of electric control signals deliversby means of stimulation of the signals causing controlled breaking up ofthe jet intermittently in an upstream breaking up position located inthe upstream area, in order to intermittently form a droplet, thusseparating the jet into a droplet and a segment and also causingcontrolled breaking up of the jet or of segments of the jet continuouslyin a downstream breaking up position, the continuous jet emitted by thenozzle thus being transformed after the downstream area into acontinuous sequence of electrically charged and non-charged ink drops.

This document further relates, according to its claim 13, to a methodfor printing on a support by means of said printer in which an inkjetemitted by a nozzle of the printer is fractionated in order to formfirst drops which will hit a substrate in order to form points andsegments,

characterized in that,

the jet and the segments resulting from the fractionation of the jetinto first drops and segments into second drops, are furtherfractionated, the second drops resulting from this last fractionationbeing directed towards the gutter.

This document finally according to its claim 14 relates to an inkjetprinter head comprising:

-   -   a printing head with one or several nozzles having an        accommodating head body (1) notably for each nozzle,    -   a hydraulic path of the ink including a stimulation chamber in        hydraulic communication with one of the printing nozzles        emitting an inkjet under pressure along an axis of this nozzle,    -   internal means for stimulating the inkjet emitted by the nozzle        mechanically coupled with the ink accommodated in the        stimulation chamber, these means acting on the jet emitted by        the nozzle in order to break up the jet in a controlled way, and    -   means for recovering the ink which is not received by a printing        substrate,    -   a generator of electric control signals receiving a control        signal and delivering to the stimulation means, stimulation        signals,    -   a layout of charging electrodes defining around the axis of the        nozzle of the upstream and downstream areas, the downstream area        being further away from the nozzle than the upstream area,        upstream and downstream electrodes of this layout being        connected to electric potential sources so as to maintain in one        of the areas a potential equal to that of the ink found in the        body of the printing head, and in the other one of these areas,        a potential different from that of the ink found in the body of        the printing head,    -   a deflection electrode layout axially located downstream from        the charging electrode layout

characterized in that the generator of electric control signals deliversto the means for stimulating the signals causing controlled breaking upof the jet intermittently in an upstream breaking up position located inthe upstream area, and also causing controlled break up of the jet or ofsegments of the jet continuously in a downstream breaking-up position,the continuous jet emitted by the nozzle then being transformed afterthe downstream area into a continuous sequence of electrically chargedand non-charged drops.

Document FR-A1-2 906 755 (corresponding to documents WO-A1-2008/040777and U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,450 B2) [2], describes how the drops are sortedin this technique under the effect of a variable field.

More specifically, this document according to its claim 1 relates to amethod for deflecting a liquid jet comprising:

-   -   the formation of a conductive liquid jet leaving at a        predetermined velocity (v) a nozzle of a pressurized chamber        along a hydraulic trajectory (A),    -   the generation of a variable electric field (E) along the        hydraulic trajectory (A) by setting under a potential a        succession, in the direction of the hydraulic trajectory (A), of        several deflection electrodes insulated from each other and        forming a network which extends along a plane of electrodes        parallel to the hydraulic trajectory (A) on a network length        (L),

wherein the potential applied to each electrode of the network isvariable and the potential applied to the whole of the electrodes of thenetwork have zero space and time averages,

-   -   the deflection of the jet by the electric field (E) by        mobilization of charges within the jet.

Improvements to the technique which is the subject of documents [1] and[2] are described in documents [3], [4], and [5] which follow, to whichreference is explicitly made here and which are introduced into thepresent description in their entirety.

Document FR-A1-2 952 851 (corresponding to documents WO-A1-2011/061331and U.S. Pat. No. 8,540,350 B2) [3], describes how to avoid interactionsbetween neighboring nozzles by compensating for mechanical cross-talk.

More specifically, this document relates to a printer with a continuousink jet comprising a printing head which is characterized in that itcomprises means for compensating mechanical cross-talk between adjacentchambers, these means simultaneously transmitting to the transmissiontowards a stimulated chamber, of a stimulation pulse, a pulse forcompensating mechanical cross-talk on each of the lines serving anactuator of a chamber adjacent to the stimulated chamber.

In particular, claim 1 of this document relates to a printer with acontinuous inkjet comprising a printing head comprising:

-   -   a plurality of stimulation chambers, aligned along an alignment        axis of the chambers,    -   a planar diaphragm, the portions of which form a wall of each of        the stimulation chambers,    -   a plurality of nozzles each being respectively in hydraulic        communication with one of the stimulation chambers,    -   at least one charging electrode and one deflection electrode        located downstream from the nozzles,    -   a plurality of electromechanical actuators each being        mechanically bound respectively to each of the diaphragm        portions forming a wall of each of the stimulation chambers,    -   a plurality of stimulation lines each intended for transmitting        stimulation pulses towards each of the various actuators,        respectively,    -   a device for processing data to be printed receiving a carrier        signal carrying data to be printed and delivering depending on        these data stimulation pulses to the stimulation lines,

characterized in that it further comprises means for compensatingmechanical cross-talk between adjacent chambers, these meanssimultaneously transmitting to the transmission towards a stimulatedchamber, a stimulation pulse on a stimulation line, a compensation pulsefor mechanical cross-talk on each of the lines serving an actuator ofthe chamber adjacent to the stimulated chamber.

This document also according to its claim 2, relates to a printing headof a printer with a continuous ink jet comprising:

-   -   a plurality of stimulation chambers, aligned along an alignment        axis of the chambers,    -   a planar diaphragm for which portions form a wall of each of the        stimulation chambers,    -   a plurality of nozzles being each respectively in hydraulic        communication with one of the stimulation chambers,    -   at least one charging electrode and a deflection electrode        located downstream from the nozzles,    -   a plurality of electromechanical actuators each being        mechanically bound to each of the diaphragm portions,        respectively, forming a wall of each of the stimulation        chambers,    -   a plurality of stimulation lines each intended for transmitting        stimulation pulses towards each of the different actuators        respectively,

characterized in that it further comprises means for compensating formechanical cross-talk between adjacent chambers, these meanssimultaneously transmitting to the transmission to a stimulated chamber,a stimulation pulse on a stimulation line, a pulse for compensating formechanical cross-talk on each of the lines serving an actuator of achamber adjacent to the stimulated chamber.

This document according to its claim 7, finally relates to a method forreducing the consequences of mechanical cross-talk between adjacentstimulation chambers of a printing head of a continuous inkjet printerincluding a planar diaphragm, portions of which form a wall of each ofthe stimulation chambers, at least one charging electrode and onedeflection electrode located downstream from the nozzles, andelectromechanical stimulation actuators of each chamber and a pluralityof stimulation lines each intended to transmit stimulation pulsestowards each of the various actuators, characterized in thatsimultaneously with the sending of a stimulation pulse towards anactuator of a stimulated chamber, compensation pulses are sent towardseach of the chambers adjacent to the stimulated chamber, towards each ofthe actuators of a chamber adjacent to the stimulated chamber.

Document FR-A1-2 971 199 (corresponding to documents WO-A1-2012/107461and US-A1-2013/307891) [4], describes a method for controlling printingin which a change in the polarity between two neighboring nozzles iscarried out.

More specifically, this document according to its claim 1, describes amethod for controlling printing of a binary continuous inkjet printerprovided with a printing head, or of a printing head of such a printerin order to print a pattern on a printing support by displacement withrespect to the head, the head comprising:

-   -   a so-called multi-nozzle droplet generator comprising:    -   a body including:        -   stimulation chambers each able to receive pressurized ink,        -   ejection nozzles, each in communication with a stimulation            chamber and each able to eject an inkjet along its            longitudinal axis, the nozzles being aligned along an            alignment axis and laid out in a same plane,    -   actuators, each mechanically coupled with a stimulation chamber        and able to cause upon a pulse command a breaking up of a jet        ejected by a nozzle in communication with said chamber at a        distance Lbr from the plane of the nozzles,    -   a deflection assembly laid out underneath the nozzles and        including from the upstream side to the downstream side:        -   a shielding electrode,        -   a first dielectric layer adjacent to the shielding            electrode,        -   at least one pair of deflection electrodes, each deflection            electrode being surrounded on either side by a dielectric            layer,

a method according to which:

-   -   pieces of information on the relative position of the support        with respect to the head are determined,    -   the electrodes of a same pair are powered with an alternating        voltage in phase opposition between each other,    -   pulses are sent to the actuators in order to form, from the        breaking up of a jet ejected by a nozzle in communication with        the chamber to which is mechanically coupled said actuator at a        distance Lbr from the plane of the nozzles, drops not capable of        being electrically charged by the deflection electrodes or jet        segments subject to the electrostatic influence of the        deflection electrodes,    -   the pulses are controlled so as to minimize the total electric        charge on the jet segments, which is contained inside the        electrostatic influence volume of the deflection electrodes.

This document also relates according to its claim 9, to a binarycontinuous ink jet printer for applying said control method.

Document FR-A1-2 975 632 (corresponding to documents WO-A1-2012/163830and US-A1-2014/168322) [5] describes how to increase the printing ratefrom 2 to 10 m/s by means of the droplet generator.

More specifically, this document according to its claim 1, describes aprinting method of a printer with multi-nozzles with a binary continuousinkjet or of a printing head of such a printer in order to print apattern on a printing support by displacement with respect to the head,the head comprising:

-   -   a multi-nozzle droplet generator comprising    -   a body including:        -   one or several pressurized chambers each capable of            receiving pressurized ink,        -   ejection nozzles in hydraulic communication with a            pressurized chamber and each capable of ejecting an inkjet            having a velocity Vj along its longitudinal axis (A), the            nozzles being aligned along an alignment axis and laid out            in a same plane,    -   actuators, able to cause upon a pulse command a breaking-up of a        jet ejected by a nozzle in order to form a succession of drops,

a method according to which the support relatively to the head has avelocity Vs, the distance between consecutive pixels in the displacementdirection of the support is Dii, and according to which, by breaking-upthe jet, drops of a first category and drops of a second category areformed, the drops of the first category each having a first volume, allthe first volumes being substantially equal to each other, the drops ofsecond category having second volumes not necessarily equal to eachother but all the drops of the second category having a volume which isnot equal to the volume of a droplet of first category,

the trajectories followed by the drops of first and second categoriesare differentiated by applying to at least one of the dropletcategories, a deflection force capable of differentiating thetrajectories of the drops of first category and of the drops of secondcategory, the trajectory of the drops of first category encountering theprinting support and the trajectory of the drops of second categoryencountering a gutter for recovering these drops,

a piece of information relating to the instants when the successivepixels imprinted run past a position where they may be printed, isgenerated

for printing a black pixel followed by a white pixel, a drop of firstcategory is formed and a droplet of second category is formed, thecumulative formation duration of these drops of first and secondcategories being equal or greater to the duration of the passage of apixel.

No description of the specific inks applied in the printers, printingheads and methods of these documents nor any suggestion as to thecriteria which should guide the selection of these inks exists indocuments [1], [2], [3], [4] and [5].

Therefore, there exists a need for ink compositions and more generallyfor liquid compositions which are specifically adapted to the so-called

SPI

technique as defined above and which may notably be used in theprocesses, methods, printing heads and printers described in documents[1], [2], [3], [4] and [5], and explicitly discussed above in thepresent description.

The goal of the present invention is to meet this need inter alia and toprovide liquid compositions which are specifically adapted to saidso-called

SPI

technique, as defined above, and which may notably be used, applied, inthe processes, methods and printers described in documents [1], [2],[3], [4] and [5] explicitly discussed above in the present description.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

This goal, and further other ones are achieved according to theinvention, with a liquid composition, such as an ink composition, liquidat room temperature, comprising a solvent, said liquid composition beinga liquid composition specifically for printing with a binary deflectedcontinuous jet printing technique in which said liquid composition formsupon (during) printing drops which are not charged by an electric field,which each have a zero electric charge, which each form a dipole underthe effect of an electric field, and which are then deflected by saidelectric field, characterized in that said liquid composition has (atthe same time) all the following characteristics a), b) and c):

a) a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 500 μS/cm, still preferably aconductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 500 μS/cm, the value 500 μS/cm beingexcluded, better a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 400 μS/cm, stillbetter a conductivity at 20° C. from 30 to 400 μS/cm, for example from30 to 200 μS/cm;

b) a dynamic viscosity at 20° C. from 1 to 25 cPs, preferably from 6 to25 cPs; and

c) a density from 0.8 to 2.5 g/cm³, preferably from 1.2 to 2.5 g/cm³.

Let us specify that the electric conductivity is measured with acommercial instrument and according to the principle well known to oneskilled in the art, for example described on the site:http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conductim%C3%A9trie.

Let us specify that the dynamic viscosity is_for example measured bymeans of a viscosimeter with coaxial cylinders.

The term of

liquid composition

,

composition of liquid

covers both inks and liquids, so-called

functional liquids

.

A functional liquid may be any liquid allowing deposition of a substancehaving a particular function, for example and without being exhaustive:a coloring, medicinal, water-proofing, fixing, refractory, conducting,insulating, anti-counterfeiting function, notably for pre-treatments andpost-treatments of textiles.

It may generally be considered that a functional liquid is differentfrom an ink by the fact that an ink is in principle colored, while afunctional liquid is not necessarily colored.

The pre-treatments of the aforementioned textiles may be generallydefined as treatments which are used for preparing the textile beforeprinting, either for assisting with attachment, or for preventing it incertain locations. The post-treatments of the aforementioned textilesmay be diverse and are well known to the man skilled in the art.

By

room temperature

is generally understood a temperature from 5° C. to 30° C., preferablyfrom 10° C. to 25° C., still preferably from 15° C. to 24° C., betterfrom 20° C. to 23° C. It is quite understood that the ink is liquid atatmospheric pressure.

The term of «binary» is well known in this field of technology and wasclearly defined above.

The liquid composition according to the invention has simultaneously allthe characteristics a), b), and c).

The liquid composition according to the invention is a liquidcomposition specifically for printing with a highly specific printingtechnique, i.e. a printing technique with a binary deflected continuousjet, wherein the liquid composition forms upon printing the drops whichare not charged by an electric field, each have a zero electric charge,each form a dipole under the effect of an electric field, and are thendeflected by said electric field.

This technique is designated by «SPI» conveniently.

The liquid composition according to the invention is a composition forany SPI technique, i.e. for all the processes, methods of «SPI», and itmay be applied in all printers and printing heads operating according tothis technology.

Thus, it is specifically indicated that the liquid composition accordingto the invention is a composition for the processes, methods, printersand printing heads as described in documents [1], [2], [3], [4] or [5]mentioned above; for the processes, methods, printers and printing headsof these documents as they are explicitly discussed above herein; andfor any process, method, printer or printing head defined by thecombination of the characteristics of at least two processes, methods,printers or printing heads as described in documents [1], [2], [3], [4]or [5] described above; or defined by the combination of at least twoprocesses, methods, printers or printing heads as explicitly discussedabove herein. As a combination, mention may be made of the combinationof documents [1] and [2] or documents [1] and [2] and of one or severalfrom among the documents [3] to [5].

This means that the ink composition according to the invention isintrinsically formulated for printing with this specific «SPI» techniqueand that it is therefore intrinsically different from a liquidcomposition for the

DOD

printing technique or the conventional «CIJ» printing technique, i.e. aCIJ technique.

More exactly, the liquid composition according to the invention is firstof all a liquid composition for printing with a printing technique witha «CIJ» deflected continuous jet, and from this simple fact, it isclearly different from a liquid composition for printing with adrop-on-demand «DOD» printing technique.

Next, the liquid composition according to the invention forms uponprinting the drops which are not charged by an electric field, each havea zero electric charge, each form a dipole under the effect of anelectric field, while the compositions for the standard «CIJ» techniqueform charged drops.

Finally, the liquid composition according to the invention is printed byusing an electric field for deflecting the drops, which there againmakes it clearly different from a liquid composition for the DODtechnique.

The liquid composition according to the invention is characterized inthat it further has simultaneously all the characteristics a), b), andc).

It was found that the liquid composition according to the invention,which has all these three characteristics was particularly well suitedfor the specific printing technique so called «SPI» technique definedabove.

These characteristics further differentiate the liquid compositionaccording to the invention from the liquid compositions for the «DOD»printing technique or the standard «CIJ» printing technique and give theliquid composition according to the invention advantageous properties ascompared with liquid compositions for the “DOD” printing technique orthe «CIJ» printing technique.

Thus, the liquid composition according to the invention has aconductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 500 μS/cm, still preferably aconductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 500 μS/cm, the value 500 μS/cm beingexcluded, better a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 400 μS/cm, stillbetter a conductivity at 20° C. from 30 to 400 μS/cm, for example from30 to 200 μS/cm, while the liquid compositions for the «CIJ» printingtechnique have a conductivity at 20° C. of 500 μS/cm or more.

The liquid composition according to the invention has a viscosity at 20°C. from 1 to 25 cPs (mPa·s), preferably from 6 to 25 cPs, while theliquid compositions for the “CIJ” printing technique have a viscosity at20° C., from 3 to 5 cPs.

The liquid composition according to the invention has a density of 0.8to 2.5 g/cm³, preferably from 1.2 to 2.5 g/cm³, while the liquidcompositions for the

CIJ

printing technique have a density from 0.8 to 1.15 g/cm³.

Surprisingly it was discovered, upon seeking liquid compositions whichspecifically are suitable for the so-called «SPI» technique, that,specifically because of the so called «SPI» technique for which theliquid compositions according to the invention are designed, thesecompositions may have advantageous characteristics as compared withliquid compositions for the «DOD» printing technique or for the «CIJ»printing technique.

Thus, it was found, since it is not necessary to electrically charge thedrops, very low conductivities of liquid, for example of ink, ascompared with liquids such as inks, for «CIJ» are sufficient.

The fact that it is therefore not necessary to add a significant amountof salt for conductivity to the liquid compositions according to theinvention, gives wide latitude in the formulation of the liquidcompositions according to the invention, which remain printable in avery large viscosity range.

In the «CIJ» technique, liquids of high densities, specific gravities,are not printable since the deflection force of electric origin isinsufficient for deflecting drops of great mass, because of an inertiaeffect.

Conversely, it was demonstrated according to the invention, that in theso-called «SPI» technique, the printed drops are those which are notdeflected, and drops with great densities in the range according to theinvention are therefore printable.

Advantageously, the liquid composition according to the inventionfurther comprises solid particles, such as pigments.

Preferably, the maximum size of the solid particles is from 2 to 10 μm,preferably from 2 to 5 μm.

The average of maximum size of the particles is measured by means of alaser particle sizer, either by quasi-elastic light scattering as withthe Zetasizer Nano-S® from Malvern®, or by light diffraction as with theMastersizer® from Malvern®.

There again, this is a characteristic which differentiates the liquidcomposition according to the invention from the liquid compositions forthe “DOD” printing technique or the standard

CIJ

printing technique and gives the liquid composition according to theinvention advantageous properties as compared with liquid compositionsfor the “DOD” printing technique or the standard «CIJ» printingtechnique.

Indeed, the solid particles, such as those contained in the liquidcompositions for the standard «CIJ» printing technique have a muchsmaller maximum size, of less than 2 μm.

In the standard «CIJ» printing technique, the net charge taken by thedrops depends on perfect synchronism between the time slot of thecharging electric field and the instant when breaking-up occurs. Thelarge particles perturb the breaking-up and make it random, whence avariable loaded charge, whence poor positioning of the drops afterdeflection and therefore poor printing.

On the contrary in the so-called «SPI» technique, as the net charge ofthe drops is zero, the accuracy of the breaking-up instant is notcritical. Therefore it was demonstrated according to the invention thatsolid particles, such as pigments, much greater in the liquidcompositions for the standard «CIJ» technique may be used in the liquidcomposition according to the invention without posing any problem duringprinting and producing markings or treatments of excellent qualities.The maximum size of the solid particles of the liquid compositionaccording to the invention is no longer limited and only by the size ofthe nozzle.

Moreover, the sedimentation problems observed with large particlesbecome manageable in the compositions according to the invention byadjusting their viscosity. In other words, according to the invention,the «large» solid particles become «printable» while they were notprintable with compositions for standard CIJ.

Advantageously, when the liquid composition according to the inventionfurther comprises at least one polymer (for example as a bindingpolymer), said polymer then has a weight average molecular mass of morethan 70,000 Daltons, preferably from 75,000 to 200,000 Daltons, stillpreferably from 80,000 to 200,000 Daltons.

There again, this is a characteristic which differentiates the liquidcomposition according to the invention from the liquid compositions forthe

DOD

printing technique or of the standard «CIJ» printing technique and givesthe liquid composition according to the invention advantageousproperties as compared with liquid compositions for the «DOD» printingtechnique or the «CIJ» printing technique.

Indeed, the polymers which the liquid compositions for the «CIJ»printing technique contain have a molecular mass which does not exceed70,000.

Similarly to what was discussed above for solid particles of large size,the solid composition according to the invention may contain polymerswith very long chains without there occurring problems during printingand giving markings or treatments of excellent qualities.

In other words, according to the invention, the polymers with a verylong chain become «printable» while they were not printable with thecompositions for standard CIJ.

Advantageously, the solvent comprises one or several solventcompound(s), selected from among the organic solvent compound(s) andwater.

Advantageously, said organic solid compound(s) of the solvent is(are)selected, for example, from alcohols, in particular, low molecularweight alcohols, for example, aliphatic alcohols such as ethanol;ketones, preferably low molecular weight ketones; ethers of alkyleneglycols; esters of alkylene glycols and esters of alkylene glycolethers, such as acetates; dimethyl formamide; N-methyl pyrrolidone;acetals; esters; linear or cyclic ethers; aliphatic, cyclic or linearhydrocarbons; aromatic hydrocarbons; and carbonates such as propylenecarbonate, ethylene carbonate and dimethyl and diethyl carbonates; andmixtures thereof.

Preferably, this or these solvent compound(s) has(have) the property ofdissolving the other ingredients of the ink, notably the binder, thecoloring materials, the additives, etc.

The alcohols will preferably be selected from linear or branchedaliphatic alcohols from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, such as methanol, ethanol,propanol-1, propanol-2, n-butanol, butanol-2, tert-butanol, etc.

The ketones will preferably be selected from ketones with 3 to 10 carbonatoms, such as acetone, butanone (methyl-ethyl-ketone), pentanone-2(methyl-propyl-ketone), methyl-3 butanone-2 (methyl-isopropyl ketone)and methyl-4 pentanone-2 (methyl-isobutyl-ketone).

The ethers of alkylene glycols are preferably selected from mono-alkyl(C₁-C₆ alkyl group) or dialkyl (C₁-C₆ alkyl groups) alkylene glycolethers comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkylene chain,preferably these are ethylene or propylene glycol ethers, such asmethoxy-propanol.

The esters of alkylene glycols and the esters of alkylene glycol ethersare preferably selected from esters of the latter with carboxylic,aliphatic saturated acids with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as formic acid,acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid and caproicacid.

For example mention may be made of methoxypropyl acetate, butyldiglycolacetate, etc.

The esters are preferably selected from low molecular mass esters suchas formates, acetates, propionates or butyrates of alcohols with 1 to 10carbon atoms.

The acetals are preferably selected from low molecular mass acetals suchas ethylal and methylal.

The ethers are preferably selected from low molecular mass ethers suchas dioxolane or tetrahydrofurane.

The man skilled in the art may easily identify from among these solventcompounds those which are volatile and those which are non-volatile.

In the composition according to the invention, the solvent generallyrepresents at least 20% by weight of the total weight of the liquidcomposition, preferably the solvent represents from 30% to 90% byweight, still preferably from 60% to 80% by weight, of the total weightof the liquid composition.

According to a first embodiment, the liquid composition according to theinvention is an aqueous composition and the solvent comprises a majorityamount (50% by weight or more) by weight of water based on the totalweight of the solvent, preferably the solvent comprises 100% of water,i.e. consists of water.

The liquid composition according to the invention may essentially bebased on water and only comprise a very small amount of organic solventcompound(s), generally less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5%,still preferably less than 1% by weight, based on the total weight ofthe composition of the liquid.

The liquid composition, for example of ink, according to the inventionmay be essentially free of any organic solvent compounds (0%).

According to a second embodiment, the liquid composition according tothe invention is a non-aqueous, organic composition and the solventcomprises a majority amount (50% by weight or more) by weight of one orseveral organic solvent compound(s) based on the total weight of thesolvent, preferably the solvent comprises 100% of one or several organicsolvent compound(s), i.e. consists of one or several organic solvent(s).

The liquid composition, for example the ink composition, according tothe invention may optionally only comprise a very small amount of water,generally less than 10% by weight, preferably less than 5%, stillpreferably less than 1% by weight, based on the total weight of theliquid composition.

The liquid composition, for example the ink composition, according tothe invention may even be essentially free of water (0% water).

In fact, in this case water present in the composition is only providedwater found as an impurity in the various components of the liquid, forexample of the ink. The higher the degree of purity of the selectedcomponents, the lower will be the water content.

When in the liquid composition according to the invention, there is asmall content or absence of water, this promotes the formation of theliquid film, for example of ink, when the binders and other coloringagents of the composition are insoluble in water, thereby improving theresistance and adherence properties of the composition, for example ofthe ink.

Advantageously (case of a non-aqueous liquid), the solvent may comprise,preferably may consist of one or several organic solvent compound(s) andoptionally water provided that the amount of water observes theconditions indicated above, i.e. generally less than 10% by weight,preferably less than 5%, still preferably, less than 1% by weight, basedon the total weight of the ink composition, or even 0%.

Advantageously, said organic solvent compound(s) comprise(s) a majorityproportion by weight, based on the total weight of the solvent (50% byweight of the total weight of the solvent or more, or even up to 100% byweight of the total weight of the solvent), of one or several volatileorganic solvent compound(s), and a minority proportion by weight, basedon the total weight of the solvent, of one or several non-volatileorganic solvent compound(s).

Preferably, the solvent consists of one or several volatile organiccompound(s). By

volatile organic solvent compound

, is generally meant that this compound has an evaporation rate of morethan 0.5 on the scale where butyl acetate has an evaporation rate equalto 1.

A preferred solvent according to the invention comprises a majorityamount by weight based on the total weight of the solvent, preferablyconsists of one or several solvent compound(s) selected from ketoneswith 3 to 10 carbon atoms, such as acetone, butanone(methyl-ethyl-ketone or MEK), pentanone-2 (methyl-propyl-ketone),methyl-3 butanone-2 (methyl-isopropylketone) and methyl-4 pentanone-2(methyl-isobutyl-ketone or MIK).

A particularly preferred solvent comprises a majority amount by weightbased on the total weight of the solvent, of MEK, preferably consists ofMEK.

Another preferred solvent consists of ethanol.

This preferred solvent may further comprise one or several other solventcompound(s), other than the ketone(s) in a total minority amount byweight, based on the total weight of the solvent, for example in anamount from 0.1% to 20% by weight, preferably from 5% to 15% by weight,based on the total weight of the solvent, in order to optimize theproperties of the inks. These minority solvents may be selected fromesters, ethers of ethyleneglycol or propyleneglycol, and acetals.

Advantageously, the liquid composition, for example the ink compositionaccording to the invention may further comprise coloring materials suchas dyes and pigments.

The dye(s) and/or the pigment(s) may be selected from all the dyes orpigments suitable for the sought use, known to the man skilled in theart, some of these pigments or dyes have already been mentioned above.

It was seen above that the solid particles such as the pigments whichthe liquid composition according to the invention may optionallycontain, may have specific particle sizes.

Generally, the dyes and pigments may be selected from among the dyes andpigments known under the name of

C.I. Solvent Dyes

and

C.I. Pigments

but also from solid particles not referenced in the

Color Index

(C.I.) such as particles of metals or of alloys or of mixtures of metalssuch as copper and/or silver particles for example, metal oxidesparticles, ceramics particles, refractory mineral compounds particles,and particles of any other mineral compound.

As examples of the most common pigments and dyes, mention may be made ofthe C.I. Solvent Black 3, 7, 27, 28, 29, 35, 48, 49, the C.I. SolventBlue 38, 44, 45, 70, 79, 98, 100, 129, the C.I. Solvent Red 8, 49, 68,89, 124, 160, 164, the C.I. Solvent Yellow 83:1, 126, 146, 162, the C.I.Solvent Green 5, the C.I. Solvent Orange 97, the C.I. Solvent Brown 20,52, the C.I. Solvent Violet 9, the dispersions of Pigment Blue 15:1,15:3, 60, of Pigment Green 7, of Pigment Black 7, of Pigment Red 48:2,144, 149, 166, 185, 202, 208, 214, 254, of Pigment Violet 19, 23, ofPigment Yellow 17, 83, 93, 139, 151, 155, 180, 191, of Pigment Brown 23,25, 41, or of Pigment White 6.

The preferred dyes are C.I. Solvent Black 27 and C.I. Solvent Black 29.

The preferred pigments are Pigment White 6, Pigment Black 7, PigmentBlue 60, Pigment Red 202 and Pigment Green 7.

The total amount of dye(s) and/or pigment(s) is generally from 0.05 to25% by weight, preferably from 1 to 20%, still preferably from 3 to 10%of the total weight of the liquid composition.

Preferably a dye for which solubility in water is the smallest, which isinsoluble in water will be selected.

By dye insoluble in water, is generally meant a dye which, added at 1%by weight in demineralized water, does not cause coloration of thewater, visible to the naked eye.

Advantageously, the liquid composition according to the invention mayfurther comprise a binder consisting of one or several bindingpolymer(s).

It was seen above that the polymers which the liquid compositionaccording to the invention optionally contains, may have specificmolecular masses.

Advantageously, this or these binding polymer(s) may be selected from(meth)acrylic, vinylic, ketonic, hydroxyaromatic, cellulosic, styrenic,epoxy polymers, polyurethanes, styrene-acrylates, alkoxysilanes, andcombinations of two or more of the latter.

Advantageously, the binder represents from 1% to 45% by weight,preferably from 5% to 30% by weight, still preferably from 10% to 20% byweight, of the total weight of the liquid composition according to theinvention.

The liquid composition, for example the ink composition, according tothe invention may further comprise one or several plasticizer(s) (of thepolymer(s) of the binder) for example selected from plasticizers knownto the man skilled in the art and selected according to the binder used.

As a plasticizer mention may be made for example of thermoplasticpolyurethanes, phthalates, adipates, citrates and esters of citric acid,alkyl phosphates, glycerol, lactic acid, oleic acid, polypropyleneglycol, fatty acid triglycerides, levulinic acid; and mixtures thereof.

The plasticizer(s) is (are) generally present in an amount of at least0.05%, preferably from 0.1 to 20% by weight, of the total weight of theliquid composition, for example of the ink composition.

The composition according to the invention may further optionallycomprise at least one conductivity salt, except if one other ingredientof the ink such as a dye, pigment, or other, is itself a ionizablecompound such as salt able to provide conductivity when it isdissociated, and gives sufficient conductivity to the ink so that thereis no need to add any conductivity salt strictly speaking, this isnotably the case of compounds known under the name of

C.I. Solvent Black 27, 29, 35 and 45

, already mentioned.

However, it will sometimes be necessary to include, in the liquidcomposition, for example in the ink composition, according to theinvention a conductivity salt strictly speaking, different from theionizable compounds, such as dyes, pigments and other ingredientsmentioned above.

By

conductivity salt

, is generally meant a salt which provides electric conductivity to theliquid composition, for example of the ink composition.

This conductivity salt may thus be selected from salts of alkalinemetals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, salts of earth-alkalinemetals such as magnesium and calcium, and simple or quaternary ammoniumsalts; these salts being in the form of halides (chlorides, bromides,iodides, fluorides), perchlorates, nitrates, thiocyanates, formates,acetates, sulfates, propionates, trifluoroacetates, triflates(trifluoromethane sulfonates), hexafluorophosphates,hexafluoroantimonates, tetrafluoroborates, picrates, carboxylates andsulfonates etc.

If the markings obtained with the liquid composition, for example theink composition, according to the invention have to be resistant towater, this or these conductivity salt(s) will be selected from thosewhich are insoluble in water (i.e. generally, for which the solubilityin water is less than 0.5% by weight), such as quaternary ammoniums witha fatty chain and hexafluorophosphates or hexafluoroantimonates.

These conductivity salts will therefore be present, if required, in theliquid composition so as to impart to the composition the aboveconductivity: preferably their amount is from 0.01 to 10% by weight,still preferably from 0.01 to 1% by weight, and better from 0.01 to0.05% by weight, of the total weight of the liquid composition.

Because the liquid composition according to the invention hasconductivity generally below that of liquids, such as inks, for the

CIJ

technique, the amount of conductivity salt optionally added willgenerally be smaller than in these liquids for

CIJ

.

The composition according to the invention may further comprise one orseveral additives selected from compounds which improve solubility ofsome of its components, the printing quality, the adherence, or furtherthe control of the wetting of the liquid, for example of the ink onvarious supports.

The additive(s) may be for example selected from anti-foam agents,chemical stabilizers, UV stabilizers; surfactants, such as Fluorad®FC430 or BYK UV-3500, agents inhibiting corrosion by salts especially byconductivity salts, bactericides, fungicides and biocides, pH regulatingbuffers, etc.

The additive(s) is (are) used at very small doses, generally less thanor equal to 5% and sometimes as low as 0.01%, depending on whether theseare anti-foam agents, stabilizers or surfactants.

The invention also relates to the use of the liquid composition, such asan ink composition, according to the invention, as described above, in aprinter or printing head applying a printing technique with a binarydeflected continuous jet, in which said liquid composition forms, upon(during) printing, drops which are not charged by an electric field,which each have a zero electric charge, which each form a dipole underthe effect of an electric field, and which are then deflected by saidelectric field.

This printing technique is therefore the so-called

SPI

technique.

This technique, this printer and this printing head are as described indocuments [1], [2], [3], [4] or [5] mentioned above or in anycombination thereof. These are notably the printers and printing headsof these documents taken alone or as a combination as they areexplicitly discussed above herein.

The goal of the invention is also a method for marking or treatingsubstrates, supports or objects, for example, porous or non-poroussubstrates, supports or objects, by spraying on these substrates,supports or objects a liquid composition, such as an ink composition,with a printing technique with a binary deflected continuous jet,wherein said liquid composition forms upon (during) printing drops whichare not charged by an electric field, which each have a zero electriccharge, which each form a dipole under the effect of an electric field,and which are then deflected by said electric field, characterized inthat said liquid composition, such as an ink composition, is the liquidcomposition, such as an ink composition, according to the invention, asdescribed in the foregoing.

This printing technique is therefore the so-called

SPI

technique.

This technique is as described in documents [1], [2], [3], [4] or [5]mentioned above taken alone or as a combination through processes,methods, printers and printing heads applying this technique. This isnotably the printing technique of these documents taken alone or as acombination such as explicitly discussed above herein through thediscussion of processes, methods, printers and printing heads applyingthis technique.

The goal of the invention is further a substrate, support or object, forexample, a porous or non-porous substrate, support or object, providedwith a marking or a treatment obtained by drying and/or absorption (inthe substrate or support) of the liquid composition, such as an inkcomposition, according to the invention, as described above.

Said marking generally comprises essentially all non-volatile solidmaterials, such as the dye or pigment of the liquid composition and/orthe binder, and it is obtained by evaporation and/or absorption in thesubstrate, of essentially the totality of the other volatile ormigrating constituents of the liquid composition, for example the inkcomposition, such as the carrier, vehicle.

This substrate may be made of metal, for example, made of aluminium,made of steel (beverage cans); made of glass (glass bottles); made ofceramic; made of a material containing cellulose such as cellophane,paper, optionally coated or glossy paper, cardboard or wood; made of anorganic polymer, notably made of a thermoplastic polymer (

plastic

), notably as a film, for example selected from PVDCs, PVCs, polyesters,PETs, polyolefins, such as polyethylenes (PE), polypropylenes (PP); madeof poly (methyl methacrylate) PMMA also called

Plexiglas

; made of fabric; made of textile; made of natural or synthetic rubber;or made of any other non-porous or porous substance; or made of acomposite of several of the previous materials.

Markings, prints, treatments of excellent quality on all the substrates,and in particular on flexible, or even very flexible substrates areobtained.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention, given as illustrative andnon-limiting examples.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

The invention will be better understood upon reading the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention, given as illustrative andnon-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES 1 TO 6

In all these examples, ink compositions according to the invention areprepared.

These ink compositions comprise the ingredients mentioned in Table I, inthe proportions mentioned in Table I.

These compositions are generally prepared by simply mixing theingredients.

In Table I, according to the ink compositions, and when these parametersapply, the average particle size

Z_(ave)

(in μm), the conductivity (in μS/cm), the viscosity (in cPs=mPa·s) arealso indicated, and finally it is specified whether the inks weresuitable or not for printing with the deflected continuous jet techniqueor with the so-called

SPI

technique.

TABLE I INK COMPOSITIONS Constituents Example Example Example Example(percentages by mass) 1 2 3 4 Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone 1.6 Ethanol 67.26Dioxolanne 87.3 Ethyl Acetate 87.4 60% Ag—Cu dispersed 98 in an organicsolvent (Cima-Nanotech ® Israel) 75% TiO₂ chips disper- 25.6 sed inNeocryl ® B813 Microlith ® Blue 5 A3R-K Valifast ® Black 3808 5Neocryl ® B817 7.04 Vinnol ® E15-45M 5.7 7.6 Triethyleneglycol- 1.5dimethylether Tetrabutylammonium 0.4 hexafluorophosphate SodiumThiocyanate 0.1 Potassium 0.5 hexafluorophosphate Average particle size0.3 μm <0.1 μm 0.1 μm N.A. Z_(ave) (μm) Conductivity (μS/cm) 188 13 74.9117 Viscosity at 20° C. 12.3 13.6 12.9 6.4 (cPs = mPa · s) Density(g/cm³) 1.004 1.89 1.098 0.948 Printing by

 CIJ 

No No No No Printing by

 SPI 

Yes Yes Yes Yes

60% Ag—Cu from the Cima-Nanotech® company, Israel, is a concentrateddispersion of silver and copper submicron particles in an organicsolvent, its density, specific gravity, is very large as compared withwhat may be projected with a CIJ ink jet.

Microlith® Blue A3R-K is a blue pigment of the C.I. Pigment blue 60 typefrom BASF®.

Neocryl® B813 and B817 are acrylic resins from DSM®.

Vinnol® E15-45M is a vinylic resin from Wacker®.

Valifast® Black 3808 is a C.I. Solvent black 29.

The indication

No

indicates that the ink is not suitable for printing with the targetedtechnique such as «CIJ».

The «Yes» indication indicates that the ink is suitable for printingwith the targeted technique such as «SPI».

The ink composition according to the invention, of Example 1, is a whiteink composition with a very high white pigment concentration and a highviscosity.

The ink composition according to the invention, of Example 2, is an inkcomposition with a high density, specific gravity, a very lowconductivity and a high viscosity.

The ink composition according to the invention, of Example 3, is an inkcomposition in a solvent not promoting conductivity and having a highviscosity.

The ink composition according to the invention, of Example 4, is an inkcomposition with low viscosity.

The compositions of Examples 1 to 4 used each in a printer 9040 or 9040Contrast head G from Markem Imaje®, which is a printer which applies astandard «CIJ» technique, were not able to give satisfactory markings:

For the composition of Example 1, the drops are poorly placed, in a veryrandom way.

For the composition of Example 2, the viscosity is too high, and theconductivity too low, so that both the pressure required for obtainingthe nominal jet velocity, and the suitable charge of the drops, cannotbe obtained.

For the composition of Example 3, no printing was able to be obtainedbecause of a too high density, specific gravity, and viscosity. Thepressure required for obtaining the nominal jet velocity, was not ableto be obtained.

For the composition of Example 4, the conductivity is too low, so thatthe suitable charge of the drops cannot be obtained, a fault occurs, aso-called

phase detection

fault.

On the other hand, the compositions of Examples 1 to 4 gave suitableprintings in a prototype printer applying the so called “SPI” techniquehaving a nozzle diameter of 40 μm.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A liquid composition comprising a solvent,wherein said liquid composition has all the following characteristicsa), b) and c): a) a conductivity at 20° C. from 5 to 200 μS/cm; b) adynamic viscosity at 20° C. from 1 to 25 cPs; and c) a density from 0.8to 2.5 g/cm3; wherein the solvent comprises a majority amount by weightof one or more organic solvent compound(s) based on the total weight ofthe solvent, and wherein said liquid composition is specificallyformulated and adapted for printing with a binary deflected continuousjet printing technique to form drops, wherein each drop: i) is notcharged by an electric field; ii) has a zero electric charge; iii) formsa dipole under the effect of an electric field; and iv) is deflectedunder the effect of an electric field.
 2. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein the organic solvent compound is selectedfrom among alcohols; ketones; ethers of alkylene glycols; esters ofalkylene glycols; esters of alkylene glycol ethers; dimethyl formamide;N-methyl pyrrolidone; acetals; esters; linear or cyclic ethers;aliphatic, cyclic or linear hydrocarbons; aromatic hydrocarbons; andcarbonates; and mixtures thereof.
 3. The liquid composition according toclaim 1, wherein the solvent consists of one or more organic solventcompounds.
 4. The liquid composition according to claim 3, wherein thesolvent consists of one or more volatile organic solvent compounds. 5.The liquid composition according to claim 1, which comprises less than10% by weight of water.
 6. The liquid composition according to claim 5,wherein the solvent consists of one or more organic solvent compound(s)and water.
 7. The liquid composition according to claim 6, wherein saidorganic solvent compound comprises a volatile organic solvent compoundand a non-volatile organic solvent compound.
 8. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 6, wherein the solvent comprises one or severalsolvent compound(s) selected from ketones with 3 to 10 carbon atoms. 9.The liquid composition according to claim 8, wherein, the solventcomprises a majority amount by weight based on the total weight of theketones with 3 to 10 carbon atoms.
 10. The liquid composition accordingto claim 8, wherein the solvent further comprises another solventcompound, other than the ketone.
 11. The liquid composition according toclaim 5, which is essentially free of water.
 12. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 1, which further comprises one or several dyes and/orpigments.
 13. The liquid composition according to claim 12, wherein saiddye(s) and/or pigment(s) is (are) selected from dyes and pigments knownunder the name of “C.I. Solvent Dyes” and “CI. Pigments”, and from amongthe solid particles not referenced in the “Color Index” (C.I.).
 14. Theliquid composition according to claim 13, wherein said «Solvent Dye(s)»is(are) selected from among the C.I. Solvent Black 3, 7, 27, 28, 29, 35,48, 49, the C.I. Solvent Blue 38, 44, 45, 70, 79, 98, 100, 129, the C.I.Solvent Red 8, 49, 68, 89, 124, 160, 164, the C.I. Solvent Yellow 83:1,126, 146, 162, the C.I. Solvent Green 5, the C.I. Solvent Orange 97, theC.I. Solvent Brown 20, 52, and the C.I. Solvent Violet
 9. 15. The liquidcomposition according to claim 13, wherein said «C.I. Pigment(s)»is(are) selected from among the dispersions of Pigment Blue 15:1, 15:3,60, of Pigment Green 7, of Pigment Black 7, of Pigment Red 48:2, 144,149, 166, 185, 202, 208, 214, 254, of Pigment Violet 19, 23, of PigmentYellow 17, 83, 93, 139, 151, 155, 180, 191, of Pigment Brown 23, 25, 41,or of Pigment White
 6. 16. The liquid composition according to claim 12,comprising all in all from 0.05 to 25% by weight of dye(s) and/orpigment(s) based on the total weight of the liquid composition.
 17. Theliquid composition according to claim 1, which further comprises abinder consisting of one or several binding polymer(s).
 18. The liquidcomposition according to claim 17, wherein the binding polymer(s)is(are) selected from among (meth)acrylic, vinylic, ketonic,hydroxyaromatic, cellulosic, styrenic, epoxy polymers, polyurethanes,styrene-acrylates, alkoxysilanes, and combinations of two or morethereof.
 19. The liquid composition according to claim 17, wherein thebinder represents from 1% to 45% by weight of the total weight of theliquid composition.
 20. The liquid composition according to claim 17,wherein at least one binding polymer has a weight average molecular massof more than 70,000 Daltons.
 21. The liquid composition according toclaim 1, further comprising, one or several plasticizers in an amount ofat least 0.05% by weight of the total weight of the liquid composition.22. The liquid composition according to claim 1, further comprising atleast one conductivity salt in an amount from 0.01 to 10% by weight ofthe total weight of the liquid composition.
 23. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 22, wherein said conductivity salt is selected fromsalts of alkaline metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, salts ofearth-alkaline metals such as magnesium and calcium, and simple orquaternary ammonium salts; these salts being in the form of halides,perchlorates, nitrates, thiocyanates, formates, acetates, sulfates,propionates, trifluoroacetates, triflates (trifluoromethane sulfonates),hexafluorophosphates, hexafluoroantimonates, tetrafluoroborates,picrates, carboxylates and sulfonates.
 24. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 1, further comprising one or several additivesselected from anti-foam agents; chemical stabilizers; UV stabilizers;surfactants; agents inhibiting corrosion by salts; bactericides,fungicides and biocides; and pH regulating buffers.
 25. The liquidcomposition according to claim 1, which, when it further comprises solidparticles, is characterized in that the maximum size of the solidparticles is from 2 to 10 μm.
 26. The use of the liquid compositionaccording to claim 1, in a printer or printing head applying a printingtechnique with a binary deflected continuous jet, wherein said liquidcomposition forms upon printing drops which are not charged by anelectric field, which each have a zero electric charge, which each forma dipole under the effect of an electric field, and which are thendeflected by said electric field.
 27. A method for marking or treatingsubstrates, supports or other objects by spraying a liquid compositionwith a printing technique with a binary deflected continuous jet,wherein said liquid composition forms upon printing drops which are notcharged by an electric field, which each have a zero electric charge,which each form a dipole under the effect of an electric field, andwhich are then deflected by said electric field, characterized in thatsaid liquid composition is the liquid composition according to claim 1.28. A substrate, support or object characterized in that it is providedwith a marking obtained by drying and/or absorption of the liquidcomposition according to claim
 1. 29. The substrate, support or objectaccording to claim 28, characterized in that the substrate is made ofmetal; made of glass; made of ceramic; made of a material containingcellulose; made of an organic polymer; made of poly (methylmethacrylate) PMMA; made of a fabric; made of a textile; made of naturalor synthetic rubber; or made of any other non-porous or poroussubstance; or made of a composite of several of the aforementionedmaterials.
 30. The liquid composition according to claim 10, wherein theanother solvent compound is selected from the group consisting ofesters, ethers of ethyleneglycol or propyleneglycol, and acetals. 31.The liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein said organicsolvent compound comprises a volatile organic solvent compound and anon-volatile organic solvent compound.
 32. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 9, wherein, the solvent comprises a majority amountof MEK.
 33. The liquid composition according to claim 1, wherein thesolvent consists of one or several organic solvent compound(s) selectedfrom ketones with 3 to 10 carbon atoms.
 34. The liquid compositionaccording to claim 33, wherein the solvent consists of MEK.